My quest for “The Best Brewery in Seoul” has recently led me to the second review in this series: Platinum Brewery in Apgujeong. A purely Korean-owned Brewery, I was very excited to see how things were done locally without significant outside influence.
As I approached the entrance, I was amused by Platinum’s sign which clearly indicated that they were a brewery by writing their name on a large fermentation tank and placing it above the stairs leading down to the brewery. Making my way down the stairs, I entered the brewpub.
As I stepped inside, I noticed that the brewery was very dark; it had more of a bar-like atmosphere than a brewery. It was still light outside, so I was a bit surprised by this, as typically breweries are light in the day in order to provide a friendly dining atmosphere.
When I went to order dinner, however, I quickly realized why the atmosphere was different: Platinum is purely a place for drinking, not eating. The only foods available were essentially anju (side dishes). But in order to review the food as well, I ordered their beer sampler along with a sausage plate and fried chicken wings.
As I tried the beer, I noticed something very different about these brews. They tasted like hybrids of high-end bottled Asian beers and brewpub drafts. The taste was very light, yet I could still pull out the taste of hops and other brewing ingredients. The new taste was welcome, and I was glad to try non-western brewery styles. Those who like Asian-style beers would be delighted by these fusion tastes.
There is also a happy-hour all-you-can-drink special from 5pm – 8:30pm, with which you can also purchase food dishes for half-price. Sunday – Wednesday this will cost you KRW 13,000, and KRW 15,000 on Thursday – Saturday. This is definitely a reasonably-priced deal.
As for the food, the sausage tasted a bit processed and low-quality, but the chicken wings were flavorful and I enjoyed them. I would have liked to see traditional brewery foods on the menu like hamburgers, sandwiches, and chowder, but this particular brewery is very Korean. The food was expensive (KRW 16,000+ per dish) and was consistent with what you would find in a “Western”-themed Hof or Soju bar. It was acceptable for snacking on alongside your beer, but don’t come here expecting a quality dinner.
The staff at Platinum made me smile and to me, that is worth a lot. They were extremely helpful and tried to practice English with me while I practiced Korean. So although this is not a particularly great place for food, it is a great place for drinking freshly brewed drafts and putting on a smile.
The Good
- Korean style brews
- Affordable drinks, and option for all-you-can-drink beer
- Energetic and entertaining staff
- Easy to find
The Bad
- Better food selection needed
- Dark even in the day
- Staff only spoke Korean
Prices:
Small (360cc) 5,000KRW
Large (680cc) 8,800KRW
Sampler (120cc x 6) 11,000KRW
Pitcher (2,600cc) 25,000KRW
Pitcher (3,300cc) 31,000KRW
Food (typical price) 16,000KRW
Operating Hours:
Mon – Sat, 11:30pm – 1:00am
Sunday, 4:00pm – 12:00am
Contact
02-466-6004
Address
서울시 강남구 신사동 648-11 제성시티빌딩 B1
Directions:
Go down the street on the right side of CineCity. Platinum will shortly be on your left.
Map:
And now for the simplest map in the history of SeoulGrid:
View Platinum Brewery @ Apgujeong in a larger map
